Enterprises that extend service life of notebooks beyond the prescribed optimum performance of three years will pay more in the long-run than buying new computers, according to a recent study conducted by market research firm J. Gold Associates.

In its report entitled Keeping Notebooks Past Their Prime: A Study of Failures and Costs, J. Gold said adding two more years in the laptops’ prime usage may cost a company $1,050 per device as older, slower and less reliable machines result in productivity loss.

“This study also found out that beyond the three-year lifespan of the device, failure rates are estimated from 50 percent to 100 percent greater per year,” explained Jermyn Wong, business development manager for enterprise solution sales of Intel Philippines. Thus, we [Intel] recommend the use of enterprise-class notebooks in business environment than consumer-class notebooks.”

Even the equipment is under warranty; there is still a repair cost of $970 and $1,425 for devices not covered by service contract.

Substantial loss for organizations that resort to delaying equipment replacement purchase could stack up at a burned rate of $120,000 per employee per year.

The total cost per device associated with machine failures is computed based on actual usage including variations in breakdown rates over the life cycle, cost of repairs both in and out of warranty, information technology tasks and labor rates and end-user effects.

Meanwhile, in a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Intel entitled, Increase Productivity By Providing Notebooks Beyond The Road Warriors, 322 decision-makers employed with North American companies with 1,000 or more employees said they achieved more productivity in deploying notebooks to users who are mobile than those who work in homes and in stations.

Per engagement, the study noted that notebook users are 51 minutes more productive daily than desktop users.

Although US businesses concern future notebook investment due to data loss and protection when the device is stolen and information is leaked, they still anticipate overhead cost reduction to support notebook leverage.

Some investment strategies they cited include 47-percent better remote management tools, 43-percent reduced breakage rates of notebooks compared with desktops, 39 percent new software-based antitheft tools, and 36 percent new hardware-based antitheft tools.

To increase productivity, enhance customer satisfaction and drive down operational costs through expanded notebook investment across employee segments, Forrester laid out three imperatives for the companies.

First, is making mobility a strategic asset to better align IT initiatives with business objectives. Second, is moving beyond a one-size-fits-all model to better serve diverse, ever-changing and increasingly demanding workforce needs and looking to new remote management and antitheft tools to better manage PCs, even when off or the operating system is inoperable, and improving sensitive data, even in the event of a lost or stolen machine.